Former Terra Darren Campbell reveals near-death experience

Former Terra Darren Campbell reveals near-death experience

Former Weymouth FC player turned British Olympic gold medallist Darren Campbell has revealed he "nearly died" after suffering a bleed in the brain.

The 44-year-old, who won 4x100 metres relay gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, is recovering in hospital after having a seizure at home, which left him having to be resuscitated.

Campbell said in an interview with BBC Sport that he had suffered a pituitary apoplexy, a bleed into the pituitary gland at the base of the brain.

He said: "I nearly died. You have to give thanks. That is how close it was."

Campbell, who needed a ventilator to breathe, added: "When they first told me I was on a ventilator, I didn't believe them. I've got other people filling in blanks. If you can't breathe by yourself, you are not in a good place.

"I have to be relieved as I nearly died."

Campbell, who also won 200m silver at the 2000 Olympics as well as three World Championship medals, hopes to leave hospital today.

He added: "The doctors have said if I wasn't so fit, I wouldn't be here. I was always going to fight. As long as the doctors were fighting, I'd fight."

Manchester-born Campbell appeared 27 times for the Terras between 1995 and 1996 and scored four goals before deciding his future lay in athletics.

He scored against Bridport, Westburn Canadians, Bashley and Poole Town.

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